Winter Energy Payment

You'll only get the Winter Energy Payment if you get one of these payments from us:

• NZ Super
• Veteran's Pension
• Jobseeker Support
• Jobseeker Support Student Hardship
• Sole Parent Support
• Supported Living Payment
• Young Parent Payment
• Youth Payment
• Emergency Benefit
• Emergency Maintenance Allowance.

You also cannot be:

• getting Residential Care Subsidy or Residential Support Subsidy
• living overseas, or
• getting an overseas pension which means you don't get any NZ Super or Veteran's Pension.

The Winter Energy Payment is paid from 1 May to 1 October.

Winter Energy Payment rates

You'll get the Winter Energy Payment automatically, along with your other regular payments from us (either weekly or fortnightly).

The Winter Energy Payment:

• doesn't affect your other payments from us, or your Income Related Rent
• is a non-taxable payment
• can't be paid as a lump sum.

Couples getting NZ Super or Veteran's Pension

Couples are paid $31.82, whether you live together or separately.

It's paid to one person in the couple. The system we use for payments can't split it to pay into 2 separate accounts.

Generally, we'll pay it into the bank account of the person in the couple who has the lowest client number. You can find your client number on your Community Services Card, SuperGold Card or letters from us.

If you'd like to switch the payment to the other person's account, please call us.

Phone us

If you're heading away from New Zealand over the winter months, we can keep paying your Winter Energy Payment for up to 28 days. Tell us if you plan to leave New Zealand for more than 28 days, otherwise we might pay you too much and have to ask for some money back. The easiest way to let us know is to either:

• fill out and submit the overseas travel dates online formexternal
• call us on our Seniors line, 0800 552 002

When you return to New Zealand

If you return to New Zealand:

• before 1 October, you need to contact us so we can start your Winter Energy Payment again. Call our Seniors line on 0800 552 002
• after 1 October, your Winter Energy Payment will automatically start again next year, as long as you still qualify.

Overseas travel and getting a benefit

You need to let us know your travel plans, the reasons for travelling, and for how long.

Going overseas

If you're able to keep getting your benefit when you're overseas, we'll also keep paying your Winter Energy Payment for up to 28 days.

When you return to New Zealand

If you return to New Zealand:

• before 1 October, you need to contact us so we can start your Winter Energy Payment again. Call us on 0800 559 009
• after 1 October, your Winter Energy Payment will automatically start again next year, as long as you still qualify.

If you meet the criteria, the Winter Energy Payment is paid automatically from 1 May to 1 October. It's paid with your main benefit, pension or Jobseeker Support Student Hardship.

If you do not want the Winter Energy Payment, you can opt out of getting it by either:

• completing the 'Stop or restart Winter Energy Payment' form, or
• contacting us.

Phone us

We won't re-start it for you (even in future years) unless you ask us to.

Fill in the form

You can only fill in this form if you meet the criteria for Winter Energy Payment. This means you must be getting a main benefit, pension or Jobseeker Support Student Hardship.

If you get Special Benefit or Temporary Additional Support - please call us instead of filling out this form.

Phone us

You'll need the following information to complete the form:

• client number
• name and date of birth
• email address and contact number.

If you have a partner, the payment can only be started or stopped as a couple. The form will ask you to confirm you both agree to this.

Stop or restart Winter Energy Payment

If you've opted out, you can opt back in

Once you've opted out, we won't re-start it for you (even in future years) unless you ask us to.

If you want to re-start it, you need to fill out the same form, or contact us.